A trip to Ohio

A couple months ago I took one of our girls and made a trip to Ohio.  I was born there and my mom and cousins live there.  Spent about a week and had a great time with cousins and sisters! 

 

One of my most enjoyable moments was visiting the home that my father built shortly before I was born.  Even though we moved shortly after my first birthday it nevertheless was a treat to see his handiwork.  

My daughter Mary had a blast swimming in our cousin's pool!

Me with cousins and sisters!

As a kid I used to swim in this pond with extended family.  And in the winter we skated on it.  My uncle pictured below still lives here and it was so great to relive memories.

We scooted over to historic Ripley, Ohio and Maysville, Kentucky.  There were several murals in a line portraying the city in the 'old day'.  

Mary

Famous Ohio River

A real old fashioned ice cream shoppe.  Even though I'm from WI I have to say that their ice cream came pretty close to
being as great as my homemade with real WI cream!

Mary and I down by the Ohio River

Swimming becomes a real blast when mom's iPhone can be taken beneath the surface!

Of course no visit to Ohio is complete without a visit to the famous Jungle Jim's giant grocery store!

Thinking back 2016 Mother's Day

FaceTime with Missionary brother Gregg.  I love spending my life with those I love.  Whether through FaceTime or real time!  (Of course nothing beats real time)

Thinking back 2016 Christmas

 

It was our every 3rd year for a full on family Christmas.  And as usual our Juli hosted again in her beautiful Colorado home.  It was awesome.  While I do have more photos this pretty much sums up the party in these two.  Not everyone was present for them but we got to see and spend time with all of our children this 2016 Christmas season.  Per norm when a crowd gets together for several days sickness always seems to prevail.  I'm pretty sure only a few escaped and even into January some of  us are still bearing the results:(

 

 

Yep, that's my family!  And they are crazy!  And I love them!

Feeling Squished?

Gold Toyota in the middle!

This is what my daughter felt when she came out of work! She quickly realized this situation was not conducive to a relatively new driver! She texted me this photo with the words:

HELP - Should I try? I'm scared!

She did try and was very successful at it as well! Go Emma!

Lake Michigan

The cool air and freezing water had no affect on them! Oh, to be a kid again!

I'm not sure where THIS outfit came from...

One of many "outstanding" outfits designed by Mary

Smith Family Silent Movie

My girls had a blast making this and die laughing every time they view it!

Colorado/Christmas/Family Fun

Christmas Eve day was we spent at the Glenwood Springs, Colorado Hot Springs pool with our family.  It began snowing during our swimming which made it even more special.  Thanks Juli for the family gift.  We had a great time!

Christie, Jeff, Robyn and Luke

Mary and Janai just in time for the picture!

Christie and Robyn

Instead of forming the line "outside" of the pool to wait their turn on the diving my family decided to stay put in the water rather than freeze standing outside the pool!

It wasn't easy to gather everyone together for a big group shot but we got a few together for a pose.  The others were off swimming or diving off the board!

We spent one of days in Manitou Springs and visiting Garden of the Gods with Aunts, Uncles, and lots of cousins!  Here are some of my girls posing with mama!

Makenzie and Mary

Mary

August happenings, Ohio, and Six Flags

I had an opportunity this month to trek to Ohio to see my mom and sister.  I took our truck and two of our girls with me.  Not all of the kids wanted to go since we will be taking another trip soon.  I idea of driving so much didn't appeal to them at all.  At the end our stay we got to meet up with daughter Christie, her husband and his family as they were in the middle of taking a 21 state trip!  It was fun to see her for a couple days which is very nice considering she and Jeff live in another state!  Here are a few pics from our trip and some from home as we wrap up the month of August!

Driving all day can sure where a guy out.

Mary was ready for bed after arriving at Grandma's house.  She promptly prepared it herself and was ready for sleep!

Right before heading out in the country to grandma's the girls were treated to Dairy Queen.  Funny how that hardly ever happens when there are 10 or 12 of us or more! But 2 kids - totally doable!

My little princesses!

swimming in Columbus, Ohio

Saying bye is NEVER any fun!  

And now on our way home!

Taking a lunch and driving break the girls were playing and Mary ran into a problem.  Or should I say the problem ran into her.  She was very sad!  She got stung by a wasp on her lip and on her tummy! Way too much for any kid!  Hugs are a must!

Our problems didn't end with wasps stings.  My totally trusted truck decided to act up somewhere in Indiana!  Actually it began in Ohio but I thought I could make it home for daddy to fix it.  Christie's father in law discovered that she was leaking diesel.  GREAT!  It was very small at first but by the time I got to Indiana I realized it HAD to be dealt with.  Fortunately it only needed a fuel filter and it wasn't more serious but it did put me behind in driving.

However it was nearly worth the pit stop since we got to visit this quaint little town of Dublin.  And I thought my town of only 650 people was small.  Not so!  Dublin is smaller.  And very cute!  We spent our time waiting on the truck in their public library.  The index card in the front of the book totally through off my girls!  The library was actually in a house.  Isn't is just so quaint and homey!

Home again and some scenes from our month of August.

These guys have already done P90X.  Apparently that wasn't enough for them as they are now doing INSANITY!  And I will tell you - It is INSANE!  Just the warm up alone is a workout!

Emma was caught doing something other than cleaning her room!  I thought I didn't hear anything coming from her room!!!!!  But I must admit!  Getting caught reading isn't such a bad thing!

Our only August birthday.  Janai had two celebrations. One in Ohio and one at home. How cool is that!

A fun mommy's day out with my girls! Hobby Lobby, THE bakery, Barnes and Noble......FUN!  And of course a trip to the grocery store.  My most un-favorite necessary nuisance ever!!

And obviously proud of it!

I agree!

Enjoying the last days of summer

August brought us the best blessing of all.  A new baby.  Brynlee Eliza was born to Vance and Heather on the 22nd!  Such a beautiful growing family!

A VISIT TO SIX FLAGS CHICAGO

Five of the older kids had a great day in Chicago!